Strong voter turnout in Forrest and Lamar counties for the November 7 general election saw several local contested races locked down, including returning sheriffs, supervisors and house representatives.
Although Forrest County officials had only received results from 31 of 34 precincts as of late Tuesday night, most of the races in that county were decided before the approximately 1,000 absentee ballots were counted, which was not expected to be finished until Wednesday morning or afternoon. Charlie Sims was re-elected as sheriff, as was Gwen Wilks as circuit clerk, while Jack Denton was elected as the county’s new prosecutor.
In Lamar County, 15,995 of the 37,094 registered voters cast a ballot, for a 43.12 percent turnout rate. Most of the races were won in the August 8 primary election, although incumbent sheriff Danny Rigel won a close election against challenger James “Jamie” Murray.
Available vote totals for local races are as follows:
FORREST COUNTY
District 12 District Attorney
- Lin Carter, Republican: 12,533
State Senate, District 34
- Juan Barnett, Democrat: 3,020
State Senate, District 42
- Robin Robinson, Republican: 2,356
State Senate, District 45
- Chris Johnson, Republican: 8,018
State House, District 87
- Joseph “Bubba” Tubb, Republican: 705
State House, District 102
- Missy Warren McGee, Republican: 3,384
State House, District 103
- Percy Watson, Democrat: 3,811
State House, District 104
- Larry Byrd, Republican: 4,977
- Melissa L. Brady, Libertarian: 786
Chancery Clerk
- Lance C. Reid, Republican: 12,374
Circuit Clerk
- David Breland, Democrat: 6,229
- Gwen Wilks, Republican: 9,318
Coroner
- Gregory E. Fluker, Democrat: 6,043
- Lisa Klem, Republican: 9,549
Prosecutor
- Jack Denton, Republican: 7,750
- Mary Lee Holmes, Independent: 7,023
Sheriff
- Kenny Johnson, Democrat: 6,236
- Charlie Sims, Republican: 9,452
Tax Assessor
- Mary Ann Palmer, Republican: 9,330
- Charles “Chip” Brown, Independent: 5,428
Tax Collector
- Zac Howell, Republican: 12,257
District 1 Supervisor
- Gentry Mordica, Republican: 2,551
District 2 Supervisor
- Gerald B. Steele, Republican: 805
- Sharon A. Thompson, 1,829
District 3 Supervisor
- Steven Stringer, Republican: 3,800
District 4 Supervisor
- Brian Cawthon, Republican: 841
- Roderick Woullard, Democrat: 2,009
District 5 Supervisor
- Terri Bell, Republican: 2,415
District 2 Election Commissioner
- Johniece DuPree, Democrat: 2,211
District 4 Election Commissioner
- Nancy Bourne-Noble, Democrat: 2,503
Justice Court Judge, District 1
- Wes Curry, Republican: 3,978
Justice Court Judge, District 2
- Brenda Roberts, Democrat: 945
- Zachary M. Vaughn, Republican: 3,668
Justice Court Judge, District 3
- Gay Polk-Payton, Democrat: 3,710
Justice Court Judge, District 4
- Decarlo C. Hood, Democrat: 1,951
Constable, District 1
- Mike Harris, Republican: 3,952
Constable, District 2
- John Tryner, Republican: 4,208
Constable, District 3
- Jennifer Brown Travis, Democrat: 2,860
- Jerry Alford, Independent: 1,097
Constable, District 4
- Michael Barnes, Republican: 733
- Tommy Joe “Cookie” Cook, Democrat: 1,586
LAMAR COUNTY
District 15 District Attorney
- Hal Kittrell, Republican: 14,191
State Senate, District 41
- Joey Fillingane, Republican: 2,221
State House, District 44
- John A Polk, Republican: 11,985
State House, District 87
- Joseph “Bubba” Tubb, Republican: 5,192
State House, District 99
- Bill Pigott, Republican: 1,230
- Gregory Todd “Ttodd” Fortenberry: 81
State House, District 100
- Ken Morgan, Republican: 1,667
State House, District 101
- Kent McCarty, Republican: 5,433
State House, District 102
- Missy Warren McGee, Republican: 109
State House, District 106
- Jansen Owen, Republican: 495
Sheriff
- Danny Rigel, Republican: 7,932
- James “Jamie” Murray, Independent: 7,375
Chancery Clerk
- James D. Aultman, Republican: 14,231
Circuit Clerk
- Martin D. Hankins, Republican: 14,353
Tax Assessor/Collector
- Jack Smith, Republican: 14,396
Attorney
- Scotty Chabert, Republican: 14,261
Coroner
- Blake J. Matherne, Republican: 14,250
Surveyor
- Marc Broome, Republican: 14,226
District 1 Supervisor
- Steve Lampton, Republican: 2,162
District 2 Supervisor
- Warren Byrd, Republican: 2,251
District 3 Supervisor
- Terry Bass, Republican: 2,831
District 4 Supervisor
- Mitch Brent, Republican: 3,889
District 5 Supervisor
- Dale Lucus, Republican: 3,032
District 2 Election Commissioner
- Pat Easley Boutwell, Independent: 2,265
District 4 Election Commissioner
- Fleetwood Loustalot, Independent: 3,745
Justice Court Judge, District 1
- Bill Anderson, Republican: 3,415
- Shronda Carter, Democrat: 1,341
Justice Court Judge, District 2
- Denton Plumlee, Republican: 4,460
Justice Court Judge, District 3
- Charles Greer, Republican: 5,455
Constable, District 1
- Jason Ashley, Republican: 4,322
Constable, District 2
- Chance Curry, Republican: 4,447
Constable, District 3
- Mike Byrd, Republican: 5,011
